Community: Message List - Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:40:25 GMT

No they do not. Boss/Roland released the flagship GR-55 with all kinds of problems. Preset dropouts-bugs-midi problems etc...go to the V-guitar forum and see for yourself. When Roland rolls a unit off the assembly line thats it. To them it's perfect bugs and all. They do nothing for the end user. I have to use a third party software floorboard editor just to navigate the thing. I have played Roland synths for over 20 years and their end user indifference has not changed one bit. Line 6 is a much more end user friendly company IMHO. I have to use an M13/HD300 etc... with the GR55 just to cover up the horrible preset dropout gaps it has. Roland has no plans to address any of these problems. Neal Schon of Journey returned two Roland VG-8 units in the 90s' because of the preset dropouts. That is not being responsive to your customers.Roland is like Toyota. They don't give a "blank".

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:02:06 GMT

Totally understand where you're coming from, well to a point. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. There's no use banging your head against a wall for several years trying to get a piece of gear to do what you want. Honestly, if I bought something that didn't work the way I thought it should and had no assurance from the company that anything was going change, I'd return if I could, or sell it, and move on. I just don't think it's worth hanging your hat on the hope that the feature that's important to you is something that a company deems important.

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:18:36 GMT

You don't seem to use MIDI that much, otherwise you'd know what I'm talking about. I kind of feel cheated, and by reading numerous threads in english, spanish, german and french I know I'm not alone. About the update strategy, I completly get what you're saying. Still utterly disappointing but it makes perfect sense. It's just that it's an insanely dangerous game to play from a customer point of view in times of hazardous economics. Good reputation is hard to build, bad reputation goes fast. Just a weird behaviour, a bit like shooting yourself in the foot, that's all. I, for one, have already adviced a couple friends the past months not to buy Pod HDs and M pedals. It doesn't take much : just tell people that five switches of your M13 have died in three years, that existing bugs won't be adressed, and watch them reconsider. I'll just continue to share my "experience" with my musical surrounding.

Farewell Line6, I've patiently waited years for an update allowing your product to fully enter my setup (MIDI based, in case it wasn't clear) but I guess it won't ever. Too bad...

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:45:27 GMT

Well, that's the thing, they obviously aren't that big of a deal if you can't even name what they are. I'm on these forums virtually everyday, have answered more questions for people here than any of the Line 6 people themselves, and honestly, I have seen very much in the way of people reporting bugs other than the ones I mentioned in the last two years or so. It's simply not correct to say that there these units are bug-ridden or anything like it. I just don't see a lot in the way of advertised features not working the way they should.

I'm not trying to make excuses for the real bugs not being addressed, but I also think it's always a cost benefit analysis as to whether to invest time and energy into correcting code for an existing product. I would think it depends a lot on how many complaints you're getting, and whether those issues are affecting sales.

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:15:49 GMT

You could add that users have to buy analog controlers because the M pedals can't correctly handle two MIDI CC without lags, and so on... I can't remember them all neither, but there's quite a few. In fact, like people from Line6 say themselves, there's a whole "database" of them.

One's minor bug is another's major issue. We all use the M pedals the way we chose to, so that's not the point. What I mean is that they are still not doing exactly what they're advertised to do in publications and that all those bugs are known for years now. It's really weird, just like if Line6 had no will to fix them. Nothing is really a problem if it is corrected as soon as identified. So why not release a patch, say, every six months or every year to correct the products ?

It seems so obvious that such a behaviour is really disappointing from a brand like Line6.

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:54:59 GMT

I think this a mischaracterization. The M-series is not "full of bugs". In fact just trying to think of a few, the only ones I can think of offhand is the glitching when using the reverse function on the M9 and the fact that there's some drifting when sending a MIDI sync signal to the M13 (I think this happens with the M9as well, not sure though). Sure those are bugs, but they're relatively minor for most people. There's a good chance most users would never encounter them. I agree they should fix them, but let's not make it sound like the products have bugs that make them unuseable. The M13 has been on my pedalboard for over 4 years now, and I've not had any problems with it all during that time. That seems like a pretty good run for $500 multi-FX pedal.

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:09:39 GMT

The M series is full of good ideas and creative potential, that's true. But it's also full of bugs and problems due to bad design, especially on the MIDI side. Search the forum for the countless replies answering "this is a known bug logged in the database" or "OK, I can replicate this, please send a user request" to people reporting problems during the last years.

People from Line6, don't give the users any more effect if you don't want. After all, one buys a M5/9/13 for what it's advertised to do. But please fix the bugs in the M pedals. Respect the buyers, the ones that feed you and your families, and give us a fully working, reliable product. Roland/Boss, at least, does.

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:33:29 GMT

Would really like to see the ability to use the 4 cable method on the M9 to have an effects loop there in the middle. Really hope they get a firmware update out soon, it's been nearly 2 years...

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:02:28 GMT

Roland/ Boss updates almost nothing. I know as a GR33-GR55 etc... owner. They don't care about the end user. Line 6 is a whole other world compared to all the other companies. Two weeks ago I bought a used M13 with 1.04 firmware. Updated it easily to 2.04 for FREE!!! Took it out with a good properly biased tube amp and played two gigs with it. Brilliant device. Much better than my 3 other pedalboards with all their limitations.And with such a great looper why would I want the the hold function of the old Boss delay pedal? Having to hold the pedal down while playing is something I don't miss lol! I will definetly be using the M13 and my HD300 for almost everything I do for the next few years.Being able to play the intro-rhythm part to Third Eye Blinds "Never Let You Go" and have it play back while I play the lead line at the same time with great tone is nothing short of amazing to me. I have been around a long time so all this stuff is so much better than the Big Muff and solid state Peavey amp I started with. Enjoy!!!

Re: Any news on a new firmware upgrade for M-line? M13-M9

support@line6.com — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 01:36:31 GMT

the latest version 2.04 is here: http://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=3768